Corpse head support for undertakers



Feb. 16, 1932. J. H. SWEENEY CORPSE HEAD SUPPORT FOR UNDERTAKERS Filed Sept. 2:s,' 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet Zlwmntoa JH n eeney Feb. 16, 1932. J. H. SWEENEY 1,845,853

CORPSE HEAD SUPPORT FOR UNDERTAKERS Filed Sept. 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOBPSE HEAD SUPPORT FOR UNDEBTAKIIRS Application filed September 23, 1930. Serial No. 483,865.

This invention relates to im rovements in head su porting and holding evices for use by an ertakers in preparing bodies for burial.

o The primary object of the present invention is to provide a head support which may be employed for holding the chin of the head in a redetermined position so that the upper and ower -aws ma be held firmly together,

enabling t e embamer to perform certain necessary massaging operations during the injection of the embalming fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a head support for corpses havin a PM clam ing device for engaging and holding the s ull at the sides thereof so that a section of the top of the skull may be removed for the performance of post-mortem examinations.

29 The present invention constitutes an improvement upon the structure disclosed in the Patent No. 1,815,171, issued July 21, 1931 The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the fi l drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the head rest enibod ing the present invention showing in ClOttGt lines the position assumed H by a head resting thereon.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the head.

rest and clamping device.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates generally the top of the head rest embodying the present invention which, as shown, is in the form of a" flat rectangular frame 2 in which is formed apair of bars 3 which are disposed in spaced arallel relation as shown and are substantia 1y arallel with the side bars 4 of the frame. l lie bars 3 are connected intermediate their ends by a transverse bar 5 which is curved downwardly as shown in Figure 4 so as to receive the back of the head.

The side rails 4 of the frame are each providedwith a longitudinally extending slot 6 which, at its forward end, opensinto an enlarged opening 7.

' Supported upon each side rail 4 is a post 8 05 which has a downwardly extending pin 9 which passes through the underlying slot 6 to receive a thumb screw 10 which may be drawn up against the underside of the overlying side bar 4, in the manner shown in Figure 4. The upper part of each post 8 is In the form of a semispherc 11, the fiat face of which is directed outwardly with respect to the frame and has a threaded passage 12 formed therein.

Positioned against the flat face of the semispherical tportion 11 of each post 8 is the flat surface 0 a similarly formed semisphere 13 which forms the terminus of a leg 14 of a substantially U-shaped frame which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 15, the yoke portion of which, which connects the legs 14, being indicated by the numeral 16.

A screw 17 asses through each'of the semispheres 13 orthreaded engagement in the bore 12 of the adjacent fixed semisphere so that, as will be readily seen, the frame 15 may be oscillated in a vertical plane and held in any desired adjusted position. As shown in Figure 1 this frame 15 extends across the throat of the corpse whose head rests upon the support so that the yoke portion or bar 16 of the frame extends under the chin. Intermediate its ends this bar 16 has a screw 18 threaded therethrough, the forward end of which has a button 19 swiveled thereon, for contact with the chin of the corpse in the manner shown.

The frame 2 is sup orted upon the legs 20, in the lower end 0. which is threaded an wardly through the underlying slot 6 and receives a thumb nut 25, which may be drawn up against the under surface of thebar 4 through which it passes to hold the bar 22 in a desired position on the frame.

This bar 22 supports'a pair of clamp jaws, one of which is fixed and is indicated by the numeral 26, while the other is shiftable and is indicated by the numeral 27. Each of these clamp jaws as shown is bowed slightly to generally conformto the curvature of the skull, the concave port-ions, of course, being in opposed relation as shown in Figure 3 so as to receive the skull therebetween. The

shiftable aw 27 carries an elongated base 28 which is disposed longitudinally of the bar 22 over a longitudinally entending slot 29 formed in the bar. A screw 30 extended upwardly through the slot 29 into the base 28, maintains in position against the underside of the bar 22 a plate 31 which, while it pre vents the removal of the clamp jaw 27, permits it to be moved longitudinally upon the supporting bar. The base 28 of the jaw 27 has an upturned end portion 32' which, as shown in Figure 3, is disposed between the jaw 27 and the upturned portion 23 of the bar 22. A screw 33 passes through and is in threaded engagement with the upturned portion 23 of the bar 22 and has its inner end extended through an aperture in the upturned portion of the jaw base 28, the connection of the screw with the portion32 of the aw base being in the form of a swivel, the screw being prevented from moving through the aperture of this portion of the base by washers 3st carried thereby.

The opposite end of the screw 33 is in the form of a crank 35 by means of which the rotation of the screw is facilitated and consequently the movement of the jaw 27 inwardly or outwardly effected.

Fromthe foregoing description it will be readily seen that when the head of a corpse is placed upon the support, in the manner shown in Figure 1., the jaws 26 and27 of the clamping device may be brought together i to engage the sides of the skull and firmly hold the same in position so that the necessary embalming operations may be performed thereon, andat the same time the frame 15 may be adjusted to the proper position so that the screwl8 can be brought into firm contact with the chin so as'to maintain the jaws of the corpse in contact.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is V 1. A head support of the character described, comprising a base frame having side bars each provided with a longitudinally extending slot, an adjustable post mounted upon each side bar and having a portion extended through the adjacent slot to receive a securing screw, a frame of substantially U-shaped configuration having the free end of each leg thereof pivota-lly attached to a post, and a screw member carried by said frame for contact with the chin of a head resting upon the support.

2. A head support of the character described, comprising'a' base frame having side bars each provided with a longitudinally extending slot, an adjustable post mounted upon each side bar and having a portion extended through the adjacent slotto re.-' ceive a securing screw, a frame ofsubstane tially U-shaped configuration having the free end of each leg thereof pivotally. attached to apost, a screw member carried by said frame for contact with the chin ofa head resting upon the support, and means carried by'the. base for securing the head against movement thereon. i' i 8. A head support for corpses, comprising a base in the form of a frame having side bars each provided with a longitudinally extendingvslot, bars within theframe for the support of the head, a frame having leg mem-. bers, posts adjustable in said slots and each having pivotal connection with a leg nie m her of said frame, a chin engaging screw earned by said last frame, a clamp compr1sing a pair of jaws, oneshiftable relative to the other, said clamp being supported upon the side bars of the first mentioned frame, and means for adjustably securing said clamp in position upon the support, said means engaging in said slots for guidance thereby.

4. A head support for vcorpses, comprising a leg supported frame having oppositely positioned side bars each provided with a longitudinally extending. slot, a bar disposed transversely of the frame and extending across said slots, pins carried by said bar and extending through, the slots, thumb screws threaded upon said pins for engagement with the adjacent bars of the frame to maintain the transverse bar in adjusted position there on, a. clamp. jaw. fixed upon said last mentioned bar, a clamp j aw mounted upon the last mentioned bar and adjustable longitudinally thereon, and threaded means supported by the jaw supporting bar and having engagement with said shiftable jaw for effecting the adjustment thereof relative to the fixed jaw. 17 c ,5. A head support, comprising a base, a head clamp consisting ,of a pair of jaws, one being fixed relative to the other, means connecting and supporting the clamp jaws upon the base, and means for securing the-jaw supporting means in an adjusted position on the base. v I

6. A head support, comprising a base, a bar disposed transversely of the base, a clamp structure mounted on said bar and consisting of a pair of aws, one of the jaws being movable longitudinally of and on the bar, said bar being mounted for movement in a horizontal plane on the base and means for securing the bar in an adjusted position upon the base.

7. A head support, comprising a base, a bar member mounted upon the base and disposed transversely thereof, a clamp structure carried by the bar and consisting of a pair oi. jaws, one of which is movable relative to the other, and a screw member supported by the bar and having connection with the shiftable jaw for moving the same relative to the fixed jaw.

A head support, comprising a base, a bar disposed transversely of the base and having one end turned upwardly and provided with a threaded aperture, a clamp member consisting of a pair of jaws mounted upon the bar, the jaw adjacent the up-turned end of the bar being shiftable longitudinally thereof, and a screw member threadably extended through the aperture in the up-turned end of the bar and having swivel connection at its inner end with the adjacent shiftable jaw.

9. A head support, comprising a base having a pair of spaced parallel side bars each having a longitudinal slot therein, a bar me1nber disposed transversely of the base and resting upon said side bars, a clamp c0mpris ing a pair of jaws mounted upon said transverse bar, one of said jaws being movable relative to the other, means for shifting the movable jaw, and guide and securing elements carried by the transverse bar and extending through the side bar slots for retaining the transverse bar in an adjusted position.

10. A head support of the character described, comprising a base frame having spaced side bars, a post member mounted upon each side bar and adapted to be secured in position when adjusted longitudinally thereon, a frame of substantially U-shape configuration having the free end of each side member thereof pivot-ally secured to a post, and adjustable means carried by the frame for engaging the chin of a head resting upon the base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my s i g n at me.

JOSEPH H. SWEENEY. 

